■i 






T ; i P 



Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, 
By-Laws, Officers and Members 



OF THE 



Oneida Historical Society 



J^T UTIOA 



WITH THE 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS FOR 1878, AND SOME 

ACCOUNT OF THE COLLECTIONS OF THE SOCIETY 

\ND ITS NEEDS AND PURPOSES. 



Founded 1876; Incorporated i! 



UTICA, N. Y. 
Ellis H. Rc^erts & Co., Book and Job Printers, 60 Genesee Street. 

1879. 



The Oneida Historical Society was organized Dece 
at an informal meeting held in the office of Hon. Charles W. - ' 
at which a committee consisting of John F. Seymour, Ale . 
ard and Robert S. Williams was appointed to prepare a coj of 
by-laws, and to nominate a list of officers. At a subsequent 
December 15, 1876, this committee submitted its report, which i 
The officers elected were the same as those elected in 1879, ( | 
the exception of Dr. M. M. Bagg, Recording Secretary, who 
office in January, 1878. 

BY TRANSFER 

JUN 3 1910 



!>•» >»?;.,. ,-»l 



ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 



We, the undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing 
in the county of Oneida and State of New York, and being 
also citizens of the State of New York, of the age of twenty-one 
years and over, do hereby associate ourselves and form a corpora- 
tion, pursuant to the provisions of the statutes of the State of New 
York, and particularly under Chapter 267 of the Laws of 1875, as 
amended by Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1876. 

The name by which such corporation shall be known in law is 
■"The Oneida Historical Society at Utica." Said corporation is 
formed for historical and literary purposes, and the particular 
objects and business thereof shall be the discovery, collection, 
preservation and publication of the history, historical records and 
data of and relating to the territory or districts of country 
formerly occupied or claimed by the Oneida and Mohawk tribes or 
nations of Indians ; the collection and preservation of books, pam- 
phlets, maps, genealogies, portraits, paintings, relics, manuscripts, 
letters, journals, surveys, field-books and any and all other articles 
and materials which may establish or illustrate such history, or 
the growth and progress of population, wealth, education, agri- 
culture, arts, science, manufactures, trade and commerce in said 
territory or districts. 

The principal office and place of business of said society shall 
be in the city of Utica, in the county of Oneida. 

The said corporation shall be managed by its President, three 
Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, 
a Treasurer, and five members of said society, who shall constitute 
its Board of Managers. The names of said Managers for the first 
year of the existence of said corporation are Horatio Seymour, 
President; Charles W. Hutchinson, Alexander Seward and Ed- 
ward Huntington, Vice Presidents ; S. N. Dexter North, Recording 
Secretary; Morven M. Jones, Corresponding Secretary; Robert S. 
Williams, Treasurer; and William J. Bacon, John F. Seymour, 
Daniel Batchelor, Richard U. Sherman, and Simon G. Visscher. 



Said Managers, and Roscoe Conkling, Pomroy Jones, Luther 
Guiteau, Philo White, Daniel B. Goodwin, Charlemagne Tower, 
John Stryker, Ward Hunt, Ellis H. Roberts, DeWitt C. Grove, 
Francis Kernan, John H. Edmonds, Michael Moore, Alexander S. 
Johnson, Edward North, Othniel S. Williams, William D. Walcott, 
Daniel E. Wager, John P. Gray, John G. Crocker and Theodore 
S. Faxton, constitute a Board of Councilors of said Society — the 
foregoing being all the officers of said society for the first year. 

[Signed] Horatio Seymour, Deerfield, N. Y. ; Alexander Seward, 
Utica, N. Y. ; Charles W. Hutchinson, Utica, N. Y. ; Pomroy Jones, 
Lairdsville, N. Y. ; Robert S. Williams, Utica, N. Y ; Ellis H. 
Roberts, Utica, N. Y. ; M. M. Bagg, Utica, N. Y. ; John F. Sey- 
mour, Utica, N. Y. ; E. D. Buckingham, Utica, N. Y. ; S. N. Dex- 
ter North, Utica, N. Y. ; Andrew McMillan, Utica, N. Y ; Harold 
Frederic, Utica, N. Y. ; M. M. Jones, Utica, N. Y. ; James Benton, 
Utica, N. Y. ; Francis Kernan, Utica, N. Y. ; Samuel G. Wolcott, 
Utica, N. Y. ; Joseph E. West, Utica, N. Y. ; S. G. Visscher, 
Rome, N. Y. ; Richard U. Sherman, New Hartford, N. Y ; J. L. 
Earll, Utica, N. Y ; Edgar O. Wagner, Utica, N. Y. ; P. G. Web- 
ster, Fort Plain, N. Y. ; W. H. Christian, Utica, N. Y. ; George 
Graham, Oriskany, N. Y. ; Matt. D. Bagg, Utica, N. Y. ; William 
J. Bacon, Utica, N. Y. ; DeWitt C. Grove, Utica, N. Y. 



State of New York, 
Oneida County, City of Utica 



f-ss. 

3A, ) 



On the 18th day of September, 1878, personally appeared before 
me, Charles W. Hutchinson, Alexander Seward, Robert S. Wil- 
liams, and on the 30th day of September, 1878, personally appeared 
before me, Moses M. Bagg, John F. Seymour, E. D. Buckingham, 
Andrew McMillan, Harold Frederic, and on the 7th day of Octo- 
ber, 1878, personally appeared before me, James Benton, Joseph 
E. West, S. G. Visscher, Richard U. Sherman, Peter G. Webster, 
S. G. Wolcott, Francis Kernan, and on the 18th day of October, 
1878, personally appeared before me, Horatio Seymour, Pomroy 
Jones, William II. Christian, George Graham, M. D. Bagg, Wil- 
liam J. Bacon and D. C. Grove, all of whom are to me well known, 



and whom I know to be the persons who executed the above written 
articles of association, and they severally acknowledged that they 
had subscribed their names to said articles of association. 

M. M. JONES, 
Justice of the Peace, Utica, JV. Y. 



Oneida County, 
City of Utica, 



ss. 



On the 26th day of October, 1878, before me personally came 
Ellis H. Roberts, S. N. Dexter North and Morven M. Jones, who 
are to me well known, and whom I know to be three of the persons 
who executed the above written articles of association, and they 
severally acknowledged that they had subscribed their names to 
said articles of association. 

GEORGE L. ROBERTS, 

Notary Public, Oneida County. 



State of New York 
Oneida County, 



' j-ss. 



I, Taliesin Evans, Clerk of said county, hereby certify that 
Morven M. Jones, who subscribed the within certificate of ac- 
knowledgment as a Justice of the Peace, and George L. Roberts, 
who subscribed the within certificate of acknowledgment as a 
Notary Public, were, during the months of September and October, 
respectively, a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, of Oneida 
County, duly sworn and residing in the city of Utica, and were 
duly authorized to take such acknowledgments, and that their sig- 
natures are genuine. 

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand 
[l. s.] and affixed the seal of said county, at Utica, Novem- 
ber 14, 1878. 

TALIESIN EVANS, Clerk. 



State of New York, , 
Oneida County, 

I hereby consent to and approve of the foregoing certificate, 
and of the objects therein expressed, and of the Society therein 
named. 



Utica, N. Y., November 6, 1878. 



M. H. MERWIN, 

Justice Supreme Court. 



State of New York, 
Office of the Secretary of State, 



ss. 



I have compared the preceding with the original certificate of 
incorporation of the Oneida Historical Society at Utica, with 
acknowledgments thereto annexed, filed in this office on the 16th 
day of November, 1878, and do hereby certify the same to be a 
correct transcript therefrom, and the whole of said original. 

Witness my hand and the seal of the office of the Secre- 
tary of State, at the city of Albany, this nineteenth day 
[l. s.] of November, one thousand eight hundred and seventy- 
eight. 

GEORGE MOSS, 

Deputy Secretary of State. 



t 



CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE I. 



This society shall be called The Oneida Histokical Society 

AT UtICA. 

ARTICLE II. 

The objects of this society shall be the discovery, collection, 
preservation and publication of the history, historical records and 
data of and relating to that portion of the State of New York 
formerly known as Tryon county, and originally occupied or 
claimed by the Oneida and Mohawk tribes of the Irocpiois; the 
collection and preservation of books, newspapers, pamphlets, maps, 
genealogies, portraits, paintings, relics, manuscripts, letters, jour- 
nals, surveys, field-books, and any and all other materials which 
may establish or illustrate such history, or the growth and prog- 
ress of population, wealth, education, agriculture, arts, manufact- 
ures and commerce in central New York. 

ARTICLE III. 

The society shall consist of resident, corresponding and honorary^ 
members, who shall be elected by a majority of ballots ; and of 
life members, as hereinafter provided. Resident members shall 
consist of persons residing in the county of Oneida; corresponding 
and honorary members of persons residing elsewhere. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Resident members shall pay an admission fee of two dollars, and 
also an annual fee of two dollars, which shall be paid on or before 
the 1st day of May in each year after that in which they shall 
have been elected. Any member in arrears for annual dues on 
the second Tuesday in January in each year, shall no longer be 
considered a member of the society. 

*As Amended, December 17, 1878. 



ARTICLE V. 

The officers of the society shall consist of a President, three 
Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secre- 
tary, a Librarian, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected annually, 
on the second Tuesday in January, by a majority of ballots ; and 
who, together with an Executive Committee of five, to be elected 
annually in the same manner from among the number of the Board 
of Councilors, shall constitute the Board of Managers of the 
society, exercising the duties and discharging the responsibilities 
which belong to boards of trustees in general. Five members of 
the Board of Managers, if the number include the President or 
one of the Vice Presidents, shall constitute a quorum at any 
regularly called meeting. 

ARTICLE VI. 

There shall be a Board of twenty-six Councilors, to be elected at 
the first annual meeting of the society, who shall hold office for 
life. An Executive Committee of five shall be elected annually 
from among the number of the Councilors. All vacancies in the 
Board of Councilors, by resignation or death, shall be filled at the 
next succeeding annual meeting of the society, by a majoritv 
of ballots. 

ARTICLE VII. 

k\ 

None but resident <*r life members shall be eligible to office, or 
qualified to vote. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

The payment of twenty-five dollars at one time shall constitute 
a life member, exempt from the payment of annual dues. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The President shall preside at all meetings of the society, regu- 
late its proceedings, and have a casting vote. He shall be chair- 
man of the Board of Managers. Either of the Vice Presidents may 
discharge the duties of the President in his absence. 



ARTICLE X. 

The Recording Secretary shall have the custody of the constitu- 
tion, by-laws and records of the society. He shall give due notice 
of all regular and special meetings, and keep a record of the pro- 
ceedings of the same. At least two days notice shall he given of 
all special meetings. He shall be secretary of the Board of Man- 
agers, and keep a record of its proceedings. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The Corresponding Secretary shall have the custody of all letters 
and communications on the business of the society, and shall read 
to the society all communications received by him as such Sec- 
retary. He shall, under the direction of the society, prepare all 
communications to be addressed to others in the name of the 
Society, and keep true copies of the same. 

ARTICLE XII. 

The Librarian, under the direction of the Board of Managers, 
shall have the custody of the library and cabinet, including all 
manuscripts, documents, coins, relics, pictures and maps, and shall, 
under the direction of the committee on library, prepare and con- 
tinue a catalogue of the same. He shall arrange the collections of 
the society in a manner suitable for convenient reference and in- 
spection. He shall keep a record of all donations to the society, 
and make a report of the same at each regular meeting. He shall 
prepai-e and read at each annual meeting a statement of the growth 
and condition of the library and collections of the society. 

ARTICLE Xni. 

The Treasurer shall receive and keep all securities and moneys 
due and payable or belonging to the society. He shall keep the 
funds of the society on deposit to his credit as such Treasurer, in 
some institution to be approved by the Board of Managers, and 
shall pay such sums as the society shall direct, upon the written 
order or warrant of the President or one of the Vice Presidents, 
or the warrant of the chairman of a standing committee directed 
by the society to incur a particular expense. He shall keep a true 
account of his receipts and disbursements, and render a statement 
thereof at the annual meeting of the society, or whenever called 
upon to do so by the society or the Board of Managers. He may also 
be required to give such bonds as the Board of Managers may direct. 



10 



ARTICLE XIV. 

It shall be the duty of the Board of Managers to discharge to- 
wards the society the duties which ordinarily belong to Boards of 
Trustees of corporations, subject only to the restrictions of this 
constitution. It shall exercise a general supervision over the funds 
and affairs of the society, and at any time may restrain any ex- 
penditure of money authorized by the society, which in its judg- 
ment is not warranted, or is forbidden by article eighteen of this 
constitution. It shall make annually, on the second Tuesday in 
January, a detailed report to the society of its transactions for 
the preceding year with such recommendations for the develop- 
ment of the society as seem to it best. 

ARTICLE XV. 

All officers shall continue in office until their successors are 
elected. Any vacancies in office, except in the number of the coun- 
cilors, may be filled for the unexpired term at any regular meeting 
of the society. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

The society shall meet monthly, on the second Tuesday of each 
month. The President, or either of the Vice Presidents may direct 
the call of a special meeting at any time. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

Those members who shall attend any regularly called meeting of 
this society shall constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

No debt shall be incurred in the name of the society, for any 
purpose whatsoevei-, beyond the amount of its unappropriated 
funds in the hands of the Treasurer at the time any expenditure 
may be authorized by the society. 

ARTICLE XIX. 

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the 
members present at a regular meeting of the society, provided 
notice of the proposed amendment is given at the previous regu- 
lar meeting, and notice thereof mailed to each resident member 
or published in the daily papers of Utica. 



BY-'LAWS. 



1. The regular meetings of this society shall be held at the 
rooms of the society, in the City Library Building, at four o'clock 
p. m., unless a different hour shall be designated by the previous 
meeting. 

2. Special meetings may be called at such time and place as 
the President or either of the Vice Presidents may designate. 
The Recording Secretary shall give notice through the press or 
otherwise, of both regular and special meetiugs of the society. 

3. Any meeting may be adjourned to such time as a majority 
of the members present shall determine. 

4. The annual meeting of the society shall be held on the 
second Tuesday in January of each year. The election of officers 
shall then take place, and the annual reports of the officers of the 
previous year shall be received, and if approved, adopted. At 
each annual meeting there shall be an address delivered before the 
society, by some person to be appointed by the society, on the 
recommendation of the Committee on Addresses and Publications. 

5. At the next regular meeting after the annual election of 
officers, the President shall appoint from among the active mem- 
bers of the society, the following standing committees, to consist 
of three members each, to-wit: 

1. A Committee on Finance. 

2. A Committee on Library and Exchanges. 

3. A Committee on Donations and Collections. 

4. A Committee on Property and Fixtures. 

5. A Committee on Addresses and Publications. 

6. A Committee on Natural History and Geological 

Specimens. 

7. A Committee on Biography and Historical Material. 

8. A Committee on Statistics. 

9. A Committee on Membership. 



12 

6. The President shall be ex-officio chairman of the Committee 
on Finance. It shall be the duty of such committee to super- 
vise the books, accounts and reports of the Treasurer, and of the 
financial receipts and expenditures of the society ; it shall also be 
its duty to consider and recommend all suitable measures to in- 
crease the revenues of the society, and promote economy in its 
expenditures. It shall examine and report upon all accounts and 
claims against the society, and upon all propositions for the 
appropriation and expenditure of its funds, when such propositions 
have not been made or reported upon by some other standing 
committee of the society. It shall also recommend to the society 
a proper investment of its funds. 

7. The Committee on Library and Exchanges shall have the 
general charge and supervision of the library, and of all proposi- 
tions in regard to its use, increase and management ; or in regard 
to the procurement, exchange, or other disposition of books, peri- 
odicals and pamphlets, or their binding and preservation. It shall 
supervise the cataloguing of the collections of the society, and 
shall take such steps, from time to time, as may be necessary to 
secure a proper accountability for said collections and library. 

8. The Committee on Donations and Collections shall have 
supervision of the discovery, solicitation and transportation of 
donations for the collections of the society ; it shall make such 
recommendations to the society in regard to the procuring of 
historical materials, by purchase or otherwise, as shall seem to it 
desirable. 

9. The Committee on Property and Fixtures shall have the 
charge and supervision of the rooms of the society and its prop- 
erty, otherwise than its catalogued collections ; shall keep the 
same in repair, and shall recommend such additions, from time to 
time, as the growth of the society shall render necessary. 

10. The Committee on Addresses and Publications shall ar- 
range for the delivery of papers and addresses on historical topics 
and investigation connected with the objects of the society, to be 
read at the regular meetings, and shall recommend an orator to 
address the society at its annual meetings. It shall have the 
charge and supervision of all the publications of the society, in order 
that the same may be properly and correctly printed whenever 



13 

directed by the society. It shall also recommend for publication 
by the society, such material as it may deem desirable. 

11. The Committee on Geological and Natural History Speci- 
mens shall have the whole charge and supervision of these depart- 
ments of the society's collections, their procurement, arrangement 
and cataloguing, and shall make such recommendations to the 
society regarding these departments, as the needs of the cabinet 
may require. 



12. The Committee on Biography and Historical Material 
shall have charge of the procuring of details and data respecting 
the history of central New York, and the individuals prominent 
in that history ; and it shall be the duty of its members to prepare 
and arrange these data in a manner suitable for preservation and 
reference. 

13. The Committee on Statistics shall have the charge and 
supervision of the collection and arrangement of statistics of the 
manufactures, trade, commerce, agriculture and business of Utica 
and central New York, and place them in proper shape for pres- 
ervation and reference. 

14. The Committee on Membership shall have full charge over 
all questions relating to the membership of the society; and it 
shall be its duty to labor to increase the membership, by inducing 
all proper persons to become members. 

15. All reports of the standing committees shall be made to 
the society in writing, and placed upon file ; but the committees may 
report by resolution if they shall deem it expedient. 

16. All books, manuscripts and other articles belonging to the 
society, shall be plainly marked with the name of the society, and 
with the name of the donor. They shall be numbered and entered 
correspondingly in the catalogue. 

IT. No books, maps, charts, manuscripts, or copies thereof, nor 
any other article belonging to the library or cabinet of the 
society, shall be taken from its rooms without the written permis- 
sion of the members of the committee on the library. 

18. The printed books in the library of the society shall be 
accessible to all members, whether resident, honorary or corre- 



14 

sponding, and its manuscript collections at the discretion of the 
Librarian. To visitors who are not members, access to the manu- 
script collections of the society can be had only by the consent of 
the committee on the library. 

19. Any member of this society may be expelled by the 
affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the resident members present 
at a regular meeting, but no such vote shall be taken unless notice 
of the motion to expel shall have been given at a meeting held at 
least four weeks previous thereto. 

20. Any of these By-Laws may be suspended in case of a 
temporary emergency, by the unanimous vote of a meeting, duly 
organized. They may be amended from time to time, by a ma- 
jority vote of the members present at a regular meeting, provided 
notice of the proposed amendment has been given at least four 
weeks previous to a final vote thereon. 

21. At the regular meetings of the society, the following shall 
l>e the order of business: 

1. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. 

2. Acknowledgment of donations to the society. 

3. Reports and communications from the officers of the 

society. 

4. Reports from the standing committees. 

5. Reports from special committees. 

6. Election of Members. 
V. Miscellaneous business. 

8. Reading of papers and delivery of addresses. 



STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY. 



A ALEXANDER Qi 



Committee on Finance, 

The President, ex-offlcio, Charles S. Symonds, 

P. V. Rogers, Charles K. Grannis. 

Committee on Library and Exchanges, 
MAXSHWW'DrBAGG, Robert S. Williams, M. M. Jones. 

Committee on Property and Fixtures, 
George D. Dimon, Andrew McMillan, William Kernan. 

Committee on. Donations and Collections, 
John F. Seymour, S. G. Visscher, C. W. Hutchinson. 

Committee on Geological and Natural History Cabinet, 
Edwin Hutchinson, William II. Christian, S. G. Wolcott. 

Committee on Biography and Historical Material, 
M. M. Bagg, Py JJi Fowler/ George Walker. 

Committee on Statistics, 

Alexander T. Goodwin, 
James C. P. Kincaid. 

Committee on Addresses and Publications, 
Alexander Seward, Rees G. Williams, S. N. D. N<jrth. 



pj Committee on Membership, 
OirARLUs P. Fofvrru, John L. Earll, Joseph E. West. 



Special Standing Committee on Oriskany Monument, 

John F. Seymour, Charles W. Hutchinson, 

Alexander Seward, S. G. Visscher, 

S. N. D. North. 

Special Standing Committee on Early Utiea Publications, 

Alexander Seward, M. M. Bagg, 

Robert S. Williams, t k u m* * n BEHTirjwwy 

D. E. Wager. 



18 



Jackson, William B., TJtica. 
\* Johnson, Alexander S., Utica, 
. (^V^—^r Johnson, Arthur B., Utica. 

Johnson, 1>. M. K., Rome. 

Jones, Henry R., Rome. 

Jones, Jolin 11., Utica. 

Jones, Morven M., Utica. 

Jones, Pomroy, Lairdsville. 

Keeney, Rufus, Rome. 

Kernan, Francis, Utica. 

Kernan, John D., Utica. 

Kernan, William, Utica. 

Kessenger, A. C, Rome. 

Kincaid, James C. P., Utica. 
^ Kroosz, Carson W., Rome. 

Latimore, Frank II., Utica. 
H T , Allii 1 1 F , Ulii j. 

Lewis, Benjamin F., Utica. 

Lnx, Arthur, Utica. 

Lowery, Samuel S., Utica. 

Mallory, H. P., Utica. 

Mann, James P., Utica. 

Matteson, William A., Utica. 



,\J^ Mears, John W., Clinton. 
Meyers, Edwin J., Utica. 



Sawyer, George C, Utica. 
Say re, Theodore S., Utica. 
Seward, Alexander, Utica. 
Schachlel, William, Utica. 
j<a Schreiber, John C, Utica. . 
\'l~ .'j#-Sehroeppel, Richard, Utica. tfj-ft^- 
Schulte, Bernard, Utica. 
Sheldon, Artemus H., Utica. 
Seymour, Horatio, Deerfield. 
finywnur, Horatio t Jr., Utica ., 
Seymour, John F., Utica. 
Sherman, Richard U., New Hartford. 
Sieboth, Joseph, Utica. 
Smith, James C, Rome. 
Storrs, William M., Utica. 
Stafford, Spencer H„ Oneida. 
Stryker, John, Rome. 
Stevens, B. L., Rome. 
' • Spencer, Thomas W. , Utica. 
Shattuck, Lewis II., Utica. 
Sillshee, William, Trenton. 
Symonds, Charles S., Utica. 
V T UlLUU, Ilunr.V Pi, ULina . 



McOhesney, Ellis M., Rome. 
McMillan,' Andrew, Utica. 
McQuade, .lames, Utica. 
McQuade, Thomas It., Utica. 
Middleton, Robert, Utica. 
* Miller, Rutger B., Utica. 
Trlinm P i; m 1 1 i Uinii^ 
Moore, Michael, Trenton Falls. 
Morris, S. 11., Utica. 
North, Edward, Clinton. 
North, S. X. Dexter, Utica. 
Osborn, Amos A., Waterville. 
Owens, Charles S., Utica. 
Parker, M. M., Utica. 
Parker, Timothy, Utica. 
Peckham, Merritt, Utica. 
Peckham, S. Townsend, Utica. 
Peters, C. 11. F., Clinton. 
Pier, Delos IX, Utica. 
Piper, John, I'tici. 
Pratt, Fred. J., Utica. 
Prescott, Cyrus D., Rome. 
Proctor, Thomas R., Utica. 
Ray, Benjamin P., Utica. 
Reid, C. ( '., Rome. 
Roberts, Ellis H., Utica. 
Roberts, George U, Utica. 
Roberts, John E. , Utica. 
Rogers, Publius Y. , Utica. 
Root, Lynott B., New Hartford. 
Sandford, Alfred, Rome. 



\<^£ 



^ Tallmaii, Edward A., Utica. 
' Tefft, Parker W., Utica. 
^■-Thomas, Daniel G., Utica. 

Thorn, James E. B., Utica. 

Thomas, George It,, Utica. 

Tourtel!ot, L. A., Utica. 

Tower, Charlemagne, Waterville. 

Valiant, William S., Rome. 

Van Emberg, Thomas, Utica. 

Visscher, Simon G., Rome. 

Wager, D. E., Rome. 
■4 W - flwiur, ludgar O., Utica , 

Walcott, William D., N. Y. Mills. 

Walcott, Stewart, N. Y. Mills. 

Ward, Charles W., Rome. 

Waterman, Daniel, Utica. 

Watson, William 11., Utica. 

Weaver, Abram B. .Deerfield. 

Wells, L. B., Utica. 

West, Joseph E., Utica. 

Wetmore, Ezra F., N. Y. Mills. 

Wheeler, Russel, Utica. 

White, David P., Utica. 

White, Philo, Whitesboro. 

Williams, B. Whitman, Rome. 

Wiley, George II., Utica. 
•^Williams, Othniel S., Clinton. ' 
* Williams, ReesGK, Utica. 

Williams, Robert S., Utica, 
jaWolcott, Samuel G., Utica. 

Wood, Frank G., Utica. 

Wright, Erastus Z., Utica. 



LIFE MEMBER. 
George Walker, Utica. 



lf{^ a , ( /<,)<?_ HONORARY MEMBERS. 

^ Dix, John A., New York. Spinner, Francis E., Mohawk, N. Y. 

Parkman, Francis, Boston, Mass. Trumbull, J. Hammond, 

Hartford, Conn. 



CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. 



/W 



Armstrong, Dr. George S., Dorslieimer, Hon. William, 

Buffalo, N. Y. Buff trig; N. Y. 

Babcock, H. G., Little Falls. Draper, Lyman C, Madison, Wis. 

Babcock, B. P., Cayuga, 111. Dygert, James M., Ilion. 

Bailey, W. T., Richfield Springs, N. Y. DeGraff, Alfred, Fonda, N. Y. 
Barnes, Charles C, Canajoharie, N. Y. Earl, Hon. Robert, Herkimer, N". Y. 
Beebe, Prof. A.M., Madison University, fia*l^JIoiu.S*H»«ely--Horkirffer, N. Y. 

Hamilton, N. Y. Eaton, Hon. John, Washington, D. C. 
Beecher, Dr. H. H., Norwich, N. Y. English, Thomas Dunn, 
Bartlett, Rev. Dwight K., D. D., Fort Lee, N. Y. 

a, . Albany, N. Y. Fitch, Hon. Charles E., 

/JpBrooks, Erastus, Hon., New York. Rochester, N. Y. 

^ Bryant, William C, Buffalo, N. Y. Fraser, Hon. Mclntyre, 

Camp, Walter B., Johnstown, N. Y. 

Sacketts Harbor, N. Y. -PgggE? IIuu . ThuilUlU II., C hicago, 111. 
Campbell, Major Douglas, New York. Frothingham, Rev. Washington, 
^Campbell, Hon. William W., Tribes Kill./NpY. 

Cherry Valley. Frey, S. L., Canajoharie , N. Y. ( ■,, ' 
Caton, Hon. John D., Ottawa, 111. Fox, Christopher G., Buffalo, N. J 

Clinton, Hon. George W., Gardner, James T., Director State 

Buffalo, N. Y. Survey, Albany, N. Y. 

Clyde, Jefferson N., v^Gebhard, John, Schoharie, N. Y. 

Cherry Valley, N. Y$\lraves, Hon. Ezra, Herkimer, N. Y. _— _. 
Colvin, Verplanck, Albany, N.Y. Griswold, Stephen JR., Albany, N. Y. fj 

Constable, Hon. John, Hall, James, LL. D., Albany, N. Y. 

Constableville, N. Y. Hardin, Hon. George A., 
Cook, Hon. James H., Herkimer, N. Y. 

Canajoharie, N. Y. Haven, Rev. E. 0., D. D., Syracuse 
Dana, Prof. James, Yale College, University, Syracuse, N. Y. 

New Haven, Conn. Haven, S. P., LL. D., Amer. Antiq. 
Danforth, Hon. Peter S., ^- Society, Worcester, Mass. -* 

Middleburgh, N. YrHerkimer, Warren, Janesville, Wis. 
DawsQn,-Jfenry B., Heath, S. P., Amsterdam, N. Y. 

Morrisania, N. Y. Homes, Henry A., LL. D., State Li- 
DeLancey, Hon. Edward F., brary, Albany, N. Y. 

New York City. Hnnffh. ltearftlrira B., M. D., 
DePeyster, Hon. J. Watts, Lowville, N. Y, 

Tivoli, N. Y. Ingalls, Frederic G, Chicago, 111. 
DeFerriere, Charles, Judson, Col. Roscius C, 

Wampsville, N. Y. Ogdensburgh, N. Y. 

Dodge, Rev. Ebenezer, D. D., Kendrick, Prof. Ashael C, D. D. f 

Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y. Rochester University, Rochester. 



20 



& 
■*?*■ 



Kirldand, Hon. Charles P., LL. D., Roosevelt, Hon. Robert B.. New York. 
New York. Roo/, Garrett L., D. D., Troy, N. Y. 
nox, Rev. William E., D. D., Sammons, Col. Simeon., 

Elmira, N. Y. Johnstown, N. Y. 

Knox, Rev. Charles E., New Jersey. «?Simms, Jeptha R., Fort Plain, N. Y. 



' Snow, B. B., A. M., Auburn, N. Y. 
Starin, Hon. John H., 

Fultonville, N. Y. 
Y. Stephens, John Austin, New York. 
Stone, William L., 

Jersey City Heights. 
Glieel, Alfx - Bd B., A. M ., Albany, N. Y. 



Ledyard, L. W., Cazenovia, N. Y. 
Lewis, John L., Penn Yan, N. Y. 
Letchworth, Hon. William P., 

Buffalo, N. 
Litchfield, Hon. Edwin C, LL. D., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Littlejohn. Rt. Rev. A. N., D. U., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. Tracy, Hon. Charles, New York. 
Lossing, Benson J., Dover Plains, N. Y. Tracy. Hon. William, New York. 
Lothrop, Samuel Kirldand, Timmerman, George, East Creek, NY. 

Boston, Mass. Upson, Rev. Anson J., D. D., 
Mack, Robert C, Londonderry, N. H. Albany, N. Y. 

Marshall, Orasmus H, Buffalo, N. Y. Van Schaick, Henry C, Manlius, N. Y. 



Merriam, Hon. Clinton L., 

Locust Grove, N. Y. 
Messenger, I. N., Oneida, N. Y. 
Milligan, M. G., Little Falls, N. Y. 
Miller, Hon. Anson S., 

Patchin, Santa Clara Co., Cal. 
Morgan, Lewis H., Rochester, N. Y. 
Moss, Hon. George, Albany, N. Y. 
Morris, Rev. Edward D., D. D., 

Cincinnati, O. 



/ #~T'0 ffiforffSP *!, Jooli A l bany l>LY . 

JrOt'allaghirrf; R-S»» -N-e.w York, 



N. Y. 

Pierrepont, William G, 

Pierrepont Manor, N. Y 



'ork. 
Wagner, Hon. Webster, 

Palatine Bridge, N. Y. 
Wagner, Peter J., Fort Plain, N. Y. 
Walrath, D. D., Chittenango, N. Y. 
Ward, Edward A., 

Richfield Springs, N. Y. 
Webster, Prof. Horace E., 

Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. 
Webster, Peter G., Fort Plain, N. Y. 
Wemple, Edward, Fultonville, N. Y. 
Wrii't; linn, DniWTtHgrrfet»w-viile,N. Y. 
White, Hon. Andrew D., LL. D., 



Cornell University, Ithaca. 
Pierson, Prof. Jonathan, Y^Williams, Samuel, 

Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. San Francisco, Cal. 

Potter, Rev. Eliphalet N., D. D., Williams, ftejj. S. Wells, Dr-ft-, 

Union Collage, Schenectady, N. Y. Yale College. New Haven, Conn. 

Potter, Hon. Piatt, Schenectady, N. YOwVooI worth, Hon. Samuel B., LL. D., 
■ Pratt, Daniel J., Albany, N. Y. / Albany, N. Y. 

^St-Redfield, Hon. Lewis H., Wright, E. Kellogg, New York. 

Syracuse, N. Y. Yost, Hon. George, Fort Plain, N. Y. 
Richmond, A. G., Camvjoharie, N. Y. 



9 



# 



ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 1878. 



FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS 
OF THE ONEIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



The Board of Managers, in submitting its report for the year 
1878, desires to express its gratification that the first year in 
which the Oneida Historical Society can be said to have had an 
active existence, has been marked by substantial progress in its 
work. By the courtesy of the Board of School Commissioners of 
the city of Utica, the society has been permitted to occupy rooms 
in the new library building; and to this fact, more perhaps than 
to any other, is to be attributed the impetus of the past year. 
The fact that the society has safe and centrally located rooms 
where its collections can be preserved, arranged, catalogued and 
exhibited, lias stimulated donations not only from friends in Utica 
but throughout central New York. The list of donors to the so- 
ciety, herewith submitted, already contains one hundred and thirty- 
seven names, some of whom have made very numerous donations. 
The Board of Managers takes this opportunity to express its grati- 
tude to all these donors, and to commend their example to the 
community at large. The report of the Librarian shows a cata- 
logued collection aggregating 1,370 in the several departments — 
nearly all of which are the accumulations of the year just closed. 
If the Oneida Historical Society can make a progress alike sub- 
stantial during the coming year, it will become entitled to the 
third rank among the historical societies of the State of New Y'ork. 

The present quarters of the society were first occupied at the 
regular meeting held September 23, 1878. At a previous meeting, 
a committee had been appointed to secure the incorporation of the 
society under the laws of the State. Articles of incorporation 
were filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany, No- 
vember 19, 1878. Senator Goodwin has been requested to secure, 
if possible this winter, the passage of an act enabling the society 
to hold real estate, in order to enable it to preserve and control 
sites of historic interest. 



22 

The society now numbers one hundred and twenty enrolled 
members, and one hundred and live non-enrolled members, mak- 
ing a total membership of two hundred and twenty-five. It has 
one hundred and ten honorary and corresponding members, and 
one life member. In the latter respect, it is to be hoped that 
the society will make some progress during the coming year, 
and that the society may be able to set apart the funds re- 
ceived from the payment for life-memberships in a perman- 
ent investment, the income to be used only in promoting the 
special objects of the society. The report of the Treasurer shows 
that while the income during the past year has been moderate, it 
has still been sufficient to meet such light expenses as it has been 
necessary to incur, and to leave a small balance in the treasury. 
The expenses will hereafter be increased, as the society already has 
on hand many donations of publications which must be bound to 
insure preservation, and every donor of valuable unbound pam- 
phlets, periodicals and newspapers should receive the assurance 
from the society that his contributions will be immediately bound 
in a substantial manner. The society has no other source of in- 
come than the annual dues of its members, which are fixed at a 
lower rate, if the managers are not mistaken, than the dues in any 
other like historical society. If this fact leads to a larger active 
membership, the board is confident that the society will gain in 
vitality without losing in revenue. The marked success that has 
attended the first year of active operations ought to enable the so- 
ciety to at least double its active membership during the coming 
year. 

During the year 1878, eleven regular meetings have been held, 
besides one annual and two special meetings, making fourteen in 
all. The board directs attention to the gratifying benefits which 
have accrued from the frequency with which the regular meetings 
have been held during the last few months, and especially urges 
the importance of regular meetings at least once a month during 
the coming year. These meetings have convinced the public that 
the Oneida Historical Society is an active and beneficial institution, 
destined to be made, by your patience and perseverance, of great 
value to the whole community, and particularly to this central 
portion of the Empire State. In no other way can donations be 
better stimulated. 

During the year five papers or addresses have been read before 
the society, on topics connected with its work in the verification 



23 

and preservation of local history. These papers are deposited in 
its archives, and furnish the nucleus for society publications, as 
soon as the state of its funds warrants. An immense untilled field 
of work is here presented ; and many members of the society have 
expressed a willingness to contribute papers on phases of local 
history during the coming year. The collections of the society have 
already materially assisted in the correction of many errors of tra- 
dition and in the preparation of papers relating to the objects of 
the society. 

Very important amendments to the constitution have been 
adopted by the society during the past year, the general effect of 
which has been to greatly decrease the powers and responsibilities 
of the Board of Managers, and to throw their work upon the 
membership at large. It was intended by these changes to in- 
crease the interest which each individual member feels in the wel- 
fare of the society, by giving to each member a voice in its 
management. In a city the size of Utica, this method of organiza- 
tion seems to promise better results than that from which we have 
departed, and which was modeled upon the method of organization 
found necessary for efficiency in the historical societies of large 
cities like New York, Boston and Buffalo. 

The Board of Managers has no recommendations to submit to 
the society beyond the general one that the success of the first 
year of active work should stimulate to more earnest endeavor in 
the immediate future. In the return for the surrender which the 
Board of Managers has made to the active members, in the 
amendments to the constitution above referred to, it has the 
right to express the hope that each individual member will do his 
part to show that this new departure was a wise step. This will 
best be done, if each member will constitute himself a special 
agent of the society, commissioned to inquire among his friends 
and acquaintances for the materials which are needed to add to 
the completeness and variety of the society's collections. A gen- 
erous rivalry in this respect will harm no one, and greatly advance 
the interests and welfare of the society. 

The Board of Managers desires to call the attention of the 
society to the unusual historical importance of the field of labor 
before it. It is obviously the mission of the Oneida Historical 
Society to cover in its collections and researches the entire terri- 
tory embraced in the original civil division of central New Yoi'k 
— the county of Try on, erected in 1772, rechristened Montgomery 



24 

in contempt of a royal governor in 1784, divided in 1791 into the 
counties of Montgomery, Otsego, Tioga, Ontario and Herkimer — ■ 
Oneida county being erected out of the latter in 1798. It is a 
wide field ; for the boundaries of Tryon county included all the 
territory lying west of a line running nearly north and south 
through the present county of Schoharie. All the State of New 
York west of that line is our legitimate field. If there are, or 
should hereafter be, kindred institutions in cities west of us, we 
welcome them as coadjutors in abroad field of investigation where 
the harvest will be abundant for all. 

That county included the hunting grounds of the Five Nations 
of Iroquois, who were the owners of this soil before our fathers 
possessed themselves of it, and whose civil and military achieve- 
ments form the only glorious chapter in the aboriginal history of 
America. We are at the center of the famous " long house," 
within fifty miles of the spot where the council fires were held, 
and so directly in the home of the Oneida tribe of Iroquois — the 
only one of the original Five Nations which stood by the colonists 
in their struggle for independence — that Utica's Cemetery Asso- 
ciation is permitted to be the custodian of its sacred stone. There 
is no association in this country which makes it its special mission 
to preserve and perpetuate the history of the Iroquois. By rea- 
son of our exceptional advantages of location, that should be the 
special mission of the Oneida Historical Society. 

In many ways the original Tryon county is peculiarly and ex- 
ceptionally interesting, in a historical point of view. Hither pene- 
trated the earliest of the Jesuit missions. Here lived and labored 
and died Sir William Johnson — in many respects the most prom- 
inent figure in the colonial annals of America. Here also lived bis 
sons and their ally Joseph Brant, who made the Mohawk valley 
forever memorable as the scene of the fiercest and most relentless 
Indian and tory massacre. Hither migrated the chief segmeut of 
the exiled Palatinates ; and the story of their pioneer battles 
with the wilderness, their revolutionary patriotism under circum- 
stances the most perilous that tested the nerve of any colonists, 
with the later record of their remarkable assimilation with the 
American race — a story never yet fully written out — offers inspira- 
tion for song, romance and history. Here also settled one of the 
earliest and most important Welsh colonies in the United States; 
and their story is likewise yet to be written. Here were the 
frontier and defensive forts and castles both of the French, the In- 
dians, the English and the colonists — Fort Bull, Fort Plain, Fort 



House, Fort Hill, Fort Hunter, Fort Dayton, Fort Schuyler, Fort 
Stanwix, Fort Oswego, Fort Brewerton. Here passed and re- 
passed along the water-courses, over the Indian fords, and through 
the trackless forests, the military expeditions of French and Eng- 
lish, until the prowess of the latter at length determined that the 
English race and civilization should predominate upon the conti- 
nent. Here were fought the battles of Oriskany and Saratoga, 
upon whose fields the war for independence ceased to be a re- 
bellion and became a revolution. Here the Western Inland Lock 
Navigation Company made the first attempt at artificial water 
navigation in America — an attempt which soon developed into the 
Erie canal, upon whose waters the commerce of a continent 
traverses from the lakes to the Atlantic. Here Avas the scene of 
the romantic adventure and the untoward fate of the Castorland 
Company. Here was the home, and here is the grave and the 
monument of the brave Baron Steuben. Here was constructed the 
most famous turnpike thoroughfare in New York State. Here was 
tested one of the first railroads ever built, and perhaps the first 
trunk road. Here was organized the first express company. Here 
the telegraph was put to its first practical utility. Here were 
erected the first cotton factory and the first woolen factory char- 
tered by the State of New York. Here the first cheese factory 
was built. Here were founded the second and third oldest colle- 
giate institutions within the borders of the State, in one of which 
— Hamilton College — was made the only attempt to educate and 
Christianize the savage Iroquois. Here the Holland Land Com- 
pany left its impress, and here were located the most princely 
grants of the royal governors. Here, on the lordly acres of Gerrit 
Smith, were the headquarters of the underground railroad. Here 
another enthusiast, in sympathy with Gerrit Smith, yet unlike 
him in many ways, undertook the experiment of the industrial edu- 
cation and tailed. Here has been the home of more than a due 
proportion of the statesmen whose life-work is a part of the history 
of New York and the nation. 

The Oneida Historical Society is the proper custodian of the 
documents, the manuscripts, the relics, the memorials of every 
description, which relate to and illustrate this remarkable history. 
Because our organization was late in the held many of the most 
valuable and interesting of these memoirs have gone elsewhere- 
It is for us to faithfully gather and preserve the valuable mater- 
ials of local history that still remain scattered and fast disappear- 
ing in the homes of central New York. 




ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN, 

With Some Account of the Collections of the Society. 



To the Oneida Historical Society at Utica : 

The undersigned, your Librarian, respectfully makes the fol- 
lowing Annual Report as required by the Constitution : During 
the short period of your active existence, your success in procuring 
materials for your Library and historical collections, has been 
highly flattering. The small beginnings and the meetings of less 
than a dozen members for advice and consultation, but little over 
two years ago, have culminated in an Incorporated Society, which 
now exhibits the signs of real vitality and long life. The citizens 
of Utica, and many intelligent persons scattered over your field, 
once the domain of the Oneidas and Mohawks, are awake to 
the fact of your existence, to an appreciation of your objects, and 
to the pi'opriety, if not the necessity of their co-operation. 

Only since the School Commissioners of Utica invited you to 
make a home in the elegant new City Library building, have 
you had any abiding place. Now you have pleasant rooms 
for your meetings, and a fire-proof room for your property. This 
last fact, a security against fire, was absolutely necessary before 
you could ask the public to entrust to you their valuable books, 
papers and historical relics. 

CLASSIFICATION OF COLLECTIONS. 

The first donations to the Library and Cabinet, were received 
September 19, 1878. I have made a descriptive catalogue of all 
donations to the present time, arranged under five heads. The 
total number given under each head in the first, second and fifth 
classes, indicates the number of bound books, pamphlets, relics and 
works of art received, while of newspapers, periodicals, documents, 
manuscripts and maps, the numbers may indicate volumes, or lots, 
or single specimens. This arrangement in five classes leaves the 
geological and mineralogical specimens to form a sixth, when some 
-one shall be found to catalogue and arrange them. 



tivityonthe part of the number, never largfe, who 
regularly attend, ','ne meetings and are at ail times 
alive to your interests, insure the perpetuity of the 
Oneida historical society, 

At <;very meeting during the past vear ninny val- 
val hie donations have beeniwutettt your library and 
cabinet, and still there are ho indications that the 
stores have been exhausted. The publicity given to 
these donatioiw has suggested to others that they, 
too, had treasures — old books, newspapers, records 
and manuscripts, laid away and forgotten and 
thought to possess little or no value, but really as 
valuable as many which have been so thankfully re- 
caived. In my attempts to arrange and find places 
for these articles, I have often discovered namesv 
dates and facts which render them of much value to 
the future historians of your field, a field Which a 
century ago constituted the hunting grounds, Inter- 
sected by the war-paths of the Oneidas arid Mohawks 
— yet some of the donors Of these old torn, soiled, 
worm-eaten books and papers have almost^apolo- 
gized for the Condition and smallness of their gifts. 
Central New York is yet rich in objects of this char- 
acter, hidden away in garrets, old chests and cup- 
boards, and all that is required for their acquisition 
is an earnest, continued, yet polite advocacy of the 
claims and objects of this society. People exhibit 
but little haste or enthusiasm in exposing or disposing 
of their old household gods. 

The contents of your library and cabinet have been 
divided into five classes, and the fellowing table 
shows the number in each, at the close of each year 
of your existence, since you have had a place for 
your treasures, and the' increase during the past 
year: 

ISTOl 1880-. Increase. 

1. Bound books ......... .512 829 317 

2. Pamphlets 34(5 644 298 

3. Newspapers and periodicals... 222 268 46 

4. Manuscripts, documents, maps,227 206 69 

5. Relics and works of art 67 83 16 

Total increase 746 

In the third and fourth classes a number may 
include a volume of newspapers or a single paper, 
a lot of an hundred or two of old letters and docu- 
ments or a single article and had your librarian been 
only desirous of high numbers, these could have been 
easily doubled. . 

Your librarian would here, now, in tins public 
maimer urge upon the members and friends of the 
society the necessity of more room for the arrange- 
ment and exhibition of your property. To render 
the books useful and their stores of historical knowl- 
edge accessible, there should be room for their classi- 
fication, which can not now be done. New cases for 
tho many volumes cf newspapers, now unprotected, 
are also a necessity. Proper cases for the preserva- 
tion and exhibition of the mass of manuscripts, In- 
dian and historic relics and mementoes would be in- 
ducements to many others to make us the custodians 
of their articles. The present cases may be pro- 
nounced safe, but they are deficient in room and in 
proper arrangement. One motive hi thus bringing 
the wants of the society before the public has been 
In the hope that public-spirited citizens may see and 
meet those wants. 

BOUND BOOKS. 

The above statement shows that of these 317 have 
been received in the past year. Of these the most 
valuable doubtless are the volumes published by the 
New York Historical society. Your wisdom in pro- 
curing a share in the publication fund of that society 
can not be questioned. The eight volumes, 1868-1876, 
(the volume for 1874 not yet published) are from 
original and mainly unpublished sources, inaccessible 
to the public. They cover the " Continuation of 
Chalmer's Political Annals," Gov. Coldeu's letters 
reviewing and criticising Smith's History of the Col- 
ony of New York, documents relating to Gov. 
Leisler"s administration, "The Clarendon Papers," 
documents relating to the "New Hampshire Grants," 
now Vermont; Old New York and Trinity Church Pa- 
pers of Gen. Charles Lee, (3 volumes;) correspond- 
ence of Gen. Pattison, British governor of New York, 



erai siuaem, uiese volumes are oi great vameasiue 
from the many curious and strange things they con- 
tain relating to our early history. This publication 
fund share entitles you to all the works published 
from its income. You have been fortunate in re- 
ceiving " The Whitney Family of Connecticut and its 
affiliations, an attempt to trace the descendents of 
Henry Whitney, of Connecticut, from 1640 to 1878," 
in three volumes, 4 to. This is probably the most 
I splendid and expensive geneological history ever pub- 
lished in any country. The edition is but 500 copies, 
all for presentation, and for so generous a gift you 
are indebted to the author, S. Whitney Phoenix, of 
New York city. 

1 Among the additions of the past year have been a 
I fair share of useful and rare books, too" many, to be 
even glanced at in this report. As a rule these are of 
a higher order and better adopted to the wants of a 
historical society than those received during youT 
first year. From one source you received over 800 
I volumes of United States and state public documents 
which are a mine for the future political student and 
I statistician. The acquisition of a good library is a 
1 work of time, even where the books are purchased, 
and it is no cause for discouragement that your libra- 
ry is no larger or.better. You have many reasons foi 
gratification at vour success. You still need the 
Utica directories for 1817, 1835, 1836, 1838, 1841. 

PAMPHLETS. 

Received during the past year, 208. Many of your rar 
est gifts have been in this modest, unobtrusive form. 
Ever since the discovery of printing a much larger 

! proportion of valuable historical, political, scientific 
and theological matter has been given to the world 
in pamphlets and hidden, or become very rare, be- 

I cause of their liability to be lost or destroyed, than ir 
bound books. You have many rare pamphlets, and 

I when classified and arranged they will be sought for bj 
students and the curious in the whole ra»ge of litera 
ture. Of those received in the past year you are in 
debted to Charles L. Woodward, of New York, foi 
more than 150, with some valuable books. 

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. 

Altho' the catalogue shows an increase of but 41 
numbers in the past year it must not be inferred thai 
the increase has been of but small value, Twenty 
two vearlv volumes (bound) of the Tri-weekly Nation, 
al Intelligencer, of Gales & Seaton, of Washington 

! are a bonanza of historical and political intelligence 
They extend from January 1, 1830, to the close of 186i 
(5 vols, missing.) What the London Times is in Eug 
land, so was the National Intelligencer during the live; 
of Gales & Seaton in the United States— conservative 
careful and never partisan at the expense of truth oi 
justice. You are to be congratulated upon their ac 
quisition. 

(I woidd en parenthesis hint in this public manne 
that the borrowers of the volumes for 1841, 1843, '4, '! 
and 1856 will confer a lasting favor upon this societ; 
by notifying the undersigned where they may b< 
found.) 

A few numbers of The Club, published by " Henr; 
Goodfellow, esq., & Company," an anonymou 
literary paper printed in Utica in- 1814, have beei 
placed on your shelves. These numbers show tha 
this was a respectable, carefully-printed periodical 
filled mainly with original matter and at least cor 
tinued for several months. Yet it has seemed t< 
pass entirely from the memory of the "oldest ir 
habitant." 
A single number of the Whitestown Gazette, pre 

i sented by B. Pratt Babcock, esq., of Cayuga, 111., 

I native of New Hartford, settles forever the questio: 
of the date of the first newspaper established in tin 

I state west of Albany. This is No. 7, Vol. I, date< 
August 22, 1793, and was published by Richard \ ar 
derburgh "opposite the meeting house in Whites 
town." The good fortune thro' which this singl 
paper was preserved and presented to this societ) 
also settles the question of priority between th 
Whitestown Gazette and the Western Centinel 

MANUSCRIPTS, DOCUMENTS, MAPS. 

Of these 60 have been added in the past year. Th 
undersigned has made considerable progress in ai 
ranging them in scrap-books, where they will be con 
paratively safe from the inroads of autograph collec 
ors, and may be consulted and read. Some of thesi 
and the largest and most valuable, especially thos 
with the pendant great seals of this state attachet 
are very difficult of arrangement, and 1 would as 
the best taste and skill of the members of the societ 
to aid me in their proper disposition. Among th 
manuscripts are many of real historic interest, c 
pecially to this part of the state, while others are ol 
and others rank as curiosities. In the opinion of th 
undersigned the most valuable original paper yo 
possess is a letter of two sheets, dated Washmgtoi 
January 15, 1804, written by Hon. Samuel L. Mitchel 
United States senator from this state, giving, in h 
language, the "interior and confidential history" ( 
the purchase of Louisiana from France. In 1803 tr 
United States purchased Louisiana from France f( 
$15,000,000. Lossing devotes fifteen lines to a histoi 
of the transaction, and other historians have bee 
about as liberal. Robert R. Livingston, the distn 
<niished revolutionary natriot, the friend of Robe 



United States minister to France, made the purchase 

of Napoleon as first consul, and James Monroe, (af- 
terwards president,) who arrived in the France befi ire 
the bargain was closed, and Talleyrand appear in the 
transaction. Most of the negotiations were oral, and 
few records were made or preserved. Napoleon 
wanted money and hated Great Britain. After the 
purchase was completed he declared " This accession 
of territory strengthens forever the power of the 
United States, and I have just given to England a 
maritime rival that will sooner or later humble Iter 
pride." As a valuable historical letter I think it 
worthy of a place in the next volume of your trans- 
actions. 

The Vander Kemp, MS. sermons, whether those in 
Dutch delivered even an hundred years ago in Hol- 
land, or those in English will sooner or later attract 
the attention of scholars and theologians. The large 
number of printed political addresses, handbills and 
circulars extending thro' the pre-partisan and federal 
and democratic-republican eras of our history are 
rich in their exhibitions of the spirit, and spite of par- 
tisan polities of that period. The vulgar blackguard- 
ism and falsehoods vented upon John Adams, Jeffer- 
son, Hamilton and many other great and good men 
and exhibited in some of these publications, would 
consign to disgrace and oblivion the utterers and au- 
thors of such things if put forth at this day. 

RELICS. 

The number in this class received in the past year 
is small, too small and yet they are valuable. The 
mementoes ami relics of great men, of great events, 
of battle-fields and historic localities, the weapons, 
implements and ornaments of the Indians, altho' 
may be of little intrinsic value, are really valuable, 
especially to a historical society. They contain and 
illustrate much of history and need but the pens of 
ready writers to record that history. These things 
all have c harms to attract the public to your assi icis • 
tion and its objects. These Indian relics are fast be- 
ing gathered up by societies and individuals and car- 
ried out of your limits to enrich other cabinets and 
add interest to other societies, Primarily they be- 
long to you. We know that many historical docu- 
ments of great value have been taken from this Vicin- 
ity to Historical societies in other cities, for no other 
reason than that ho Historical society existed on out- 
field, The 13 volumes of the origin^' 1 eoi > espoudence 
and papers of Baron ,3t'eu'"m ana many volumes of 
, newspapers primed in the early days of Utica and 
prob«bl;.' other things were wisely, given to the Sow 
Yovk Historical society many years ago ftfid HsTdre 
any one could have foreseen the existence of a His- 
torical soci 3ty here'. In modern times many valuable 
papers hnvS been taken from our field to Buffalo, 
Syracuse and other places. What more fitting than 
that your society instead of the Buffalo Historical 
society should have the. papovs o? the iate Henry R. 
Storrs, a man whose brilliant talents added so much 
and for so ,: v.'..\ \ ears to the reputation of Oneida 
BOttntf— or that this society and not the Buffalo and 
Syracuse societies should have the Vander Kemp 
correspondence and journals. 

There is not a neighborhood and in many sections 
scarcely a house in which there are not relics of our 
Indians, saving nothing Vith regard to those brought 
from distant tribes. Soon these relics of the "stone 
age," pre-historic relics, will have been gathered up 
and carried Where money will not buy them. The 
collectors of these tilings are most persistent beggars 
and, therefore, the inembersbf this society need have 
no fear of soiling their reputations by using all hon- 
orable means-, short of petit larceny, hi finding and 
securing anything and everything covered by the let- 
ter and spirit of vour charter. 
Utica. January 13; 1880. .■...-■ -. . 

M M. Jones, Librarian. 



27 



SUMMARY. 

Bound Books, Total entries, 512 

Pamphlets, " " 346 

Newspapers and Periodicals, " " 222 

Manuscripts, Documents, Maps, " " 227 

Relics and Works of Art, " " 67 



BOUND BOOKS. 



1376 

7 4- ,. W , 



Among the bound books are some of great rarity and value. Of 
course in the small number of five hundred and twelve volumes, 
there is but a fraction of those desirable and necessary for a his- 
torical library. Time and the considerate care of many friends 
will, it is hoped, make your Library what it should be. A knowl- 
edge of and taste for local history, and a good historical library, 
are mutually dependent upon each other. You have a good share 
of works of reference, and serials more or less complete. Of 
Utica directories, you only need those for 1817, 1835, 1836, 1838, 
1841 to complete the series. 

EARLY LOCAL PUBLICATIONS. 

A surprisingly large number of local publications, mostly printed 
at Utica and Rome, have been searched out in garrets and out of 
the way places, and placed on your shelves. In this way many 
books bearing the names of Merrill & Seward, Seward & Wil- 
liams, William Williams and other printers of early Utica and 
Rome, and which were entirely unknown to the present generation, 
books of fiction, poetry, school books, works on science, theology, 
&c, have come to light. Fifty and sixty years ago, Utica was 
one of the great publishing centers of the State, and very many 
more books were issued from its enterprising presses than are now 
published in a city three times its size and with ten times as many 
printers. Some of these publications are as unique as any speci- 
mens of the art that ever issued from the American press. The 
aid of the community is earnestly solicited in the effort to make 
this collection as complete as possible. 



Jr 



28 



WELSH PUBLICATIONS. 



Of works in the Welsh language, through the the industry and 
liberality of one gentleman, you have a nearly complete set of the 
bound books and many pamphlets printed in Oneida county, com- 
mencing with "Pigion o Hymnau, &c," printed by Ira Merrell, in 
Utica, 1808. 

LOCAL HISTORIES. 

Of local histories, histories of counties, towns and villages, his- 
torical sermons and lectures, you have received many. You have 
also several works containing much relating to this section of the 
State in colonial times, to the Mohawk valley and its people, to 
Forts Stanwix, Schuyler, Bull and the large territory only known 
to the French and Indians in their irruptions from Canada. Much 
of this latter information was recovered at a recent date, through 
the efforts of Mr. Brodhead, as agent of this State, from the 
record offices of England, Holland and France. It is in the direc- 
tion of local history, local to this society, that your members 
should be ever on the lookout. It is your speciality. 

PAMPHLETS. 

Of pamphlets, you have many very curious and rare, among 
which are New England election sermons, Washington funeral 
sermons, Fourth of July orations, political speeches, &c. A study 
of these would show us of this generation some of the peculiar 
theological and political notions held by our forefathers, and the 
spirit with which those of different sentiments and views were met 
and treated. Intolerance was an error of the age, rather than of 
any sect or party. Our forefathers had not learned that it was 
" safe to tolerate error when truth was left free to combat it." 

NEWSPAPER FILES. 

In newspapers and periodicals your collection is comparatively 
rich, and if your hopes in that direction are realized, these will be 
a prominent feature of the Library. 

You have one hundred and seven bound volumes of newspapers, 
and many in small lots and single. The following is a summary 
of the bound newspaper files: 



ONEIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



Animal Meeting— Officers Elected and 
Other Bust ness Transacted. 



The annual meeting of the Oneida Historical 
society-was held iti its rooms in tho library 
building last evening. There was quite a large 
attendance; 

. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 by Vice 
President Hutchinson. An abstract of the min- 
utes of the last meeting was read by the secre- 
tary. 

The following donations were acknowledged! 

Department of Interior— Statistics of Manu-~ 
facture of United States at 10th Census, volume 
two. 

Handbook of Woodon county, Kansas. 

C. W. Hutchinson— Scrap book of 1883. 

Mr. Hutchinson reported that he had had the 
base of the Fort Schuyler monument put in, 
and wished to know who to donate it to. If 
| proper he would donate it to the society. 

The gift was accepted with thanks. 

R. S. Williams, treasurer of the society, pre- 
sented his annual report as follows: 

Qash on hand; January, 1883. . . ; $2-80 10 

Received back dues from members 118 00 

^ife membership; : : ; ; . . . , . . 25 00 
nesreceived for 1883; :..;;...-., ; 170 00 



t'otal 
Paid out. 



$B87 iQ 
48 97 



Leaving on hand $538 13 

A bill of C. C. Kellogg for making the book- 
case, $112 85, and $10.97 tor finishing the same 
a total of $123.53, was presented. It had been 
approved by the chairman of the library com- 
mittee. 

Mr. Williams said he had been requested by 
the chairman of the Herkimer monument fund 
committee to state that no report would be 
made until the next meeting, as he expected to 
make more collections before that time. 

In answer to a question from Dr. Hartley, 
Mr. Williams said there was from $50 to $75 
due from members at present. 

The report of the treasurer was accepted, and 
he was directed to pay the bill of Mr. Kellogg 
for the book-case. 

On account of ill health) M' M. JvneSj the 
curator* did not prepare &n annual repOrt. 

Mr: Seward, from the committee on publica- 
tions; said that at the last meeting of the so- 
ciety, he reported that there waj not sufficient 
material on hand for a publication by the so- 
ciety, it was suggested that by adding the eata : 
log of donations a book could be made. Mr. 
Jones, the curator, had notified him that he had 
fallen behind in cataloging on account of ill 
health, and would need assistance to prepare it. 
He moved that he be authorized to obtain as- 
sistance in arranging it. 

Mr. Jones thought that with a week's work of 
an assistant he could get the matter in shape. 

The resolution of Mr. Seward was then 
adopted. 

A vacancy in the board of councilors caused 
by the death of Hon. Philo White, was an- 
nounced. 

The names of Henry Hurlburt and Alexander 
B. Roberts were presented for membership. 

Mr. Williams said many men, elected mem 
bers of the society, received their first notifica- 
tion of election from him upon a request for 
dues. They should be notified in some way. 

Mr. Jones said they did not become members 
until they had paid their initiation fee and 
signed the constitution. 



Mr. Worth offered the following, which were 
unanimously adopted. 

Resolved, That the treasurer of the society be in- ' 
structed to present, at the next regular meeting, a 
list of the resident members, who, having paid their 
annual dues for the year 1883, and not being in ar- 
rears for any previous year, are entitled to be re- 
garedas.continuing their membership in the society. 

Eesolved, That notice is hereby given that the 
names of all persons who shall be found in arrears 
for annual dues one month after the cate of the said 
report of the treasurer, shall be stricken from the 
roll of membership, and shall not thereafter be re- 
admitted to membership, except upon the special 
] recommendation of the executive committee of the 
board of managers, and that the treasurer be in- 
structed at the second regular meeting following the 
present meeting, to report to the society a list of all 
the names thus stricken from the roll of member- 
ship, 

Besolved, That the president be requested to 
withold the appoiutmeut of the standing eommit- 
*ees of the society until after the treasurer shall 
lave reported in accordance with these resolutions. 

Dr. Hartley moved that the vacancy in the 
board of councilors be filled by the election of 
Charles W. Hutchinson. A ballot resulted in 
the unanimous election of Mr. Hutchinson. 

F. W. Hurlburt, of the committee on member- 
ship, reported in favor of the election of the fol- 
lowing: Theodore F. Gardner, corresponding 
member; W. G. Stimpson, 'Dr. Wallace Clark, 
Charles Killgore, Donald Mclntyre, Henry 
Hurlburt and A. B. Roberts, resident members. 

The report was accepted and the persons men- 
tioned were elected. 

Mr. Hutchinson reported that the roster of 
Oriskany was complete, and ready for the tablet 
with the exception of one name. 

The majority of members present did not rel- 
ish a discussion of the well worn suhject, and it 
was decided to proceed to the election of offi- 
cers. 

On motion of Mr. Dimon the secretary was 
directed to notify the members just elected of 
their election) and also to do it in all cases here- 
after. 

On motion of Dr. Bagg the society proceeded 
to vote for the election of president by ballot. 

Hon. Horatio Seymour received 23 of the 25 
votes cast on the first ballot, and was declared 
electGd. 

The first bal'ott for first vice president, in 
place of C. W. Hutchinson, resulted— E. H. 
Roberts, 11; C. W. Hutchinson, 10; A. Seward, 
2; C. W. Darling, 1; W. J. Bacon, 1. There be- 
ing no choice, another ballot, confined to the two 
highest, was taken. It resulted— Roberts, 15; 
Hutchinson, IP. Mr. Roberts was declared 
elected. 

Rev. Dr. Hartley was elected second vicopn 
dent, in place of Judge Bacon, on the first ball 
receiving 14 votes, to C. W. Hutchinson 7, &■ 
Judge Bacon 4. 

Hon. D. E. Wager was re-elscted for the tbira i 
vice president. 

A member moved that the secretary cast the 
ballot of the society for M. M. Jones for cura- 
tor. 

A question arising as to whether this could be 
done after the society had decided to elect the 
officers by ballot, Mr. Roberts said he trusted 
the society would pay the curator the compli- 
ment of electing him as suggested. The society 
owed him a great deal. 

The resolution was adopted and Dr. Bagg cast 
the ballot of the society for Mr. Jones. 

A ballot for corresponding secretary, the du- 
ties of which office Mr. Jones at present per- 
forms, resulted as follows: George D. Dimon, 
11; C. W. Darling, 10; S. N. D. North, 3: D. S. 
Foster, 1; I. J. Gray, 1. 

Messrs. Dimon and North withdrew from the 
contest. Another ballot resulted: DarliDg 13, 
Foster 8, Dimon 4, Hurlburt 1. 

While a third ballot was being takes, Profes- 
sor Sawyer notified the society that he would 
move at the next regular meeting to amend the 
constitution so as to change the time of meeting 
from the second Tuesday in the month to the 
first Monday 



The third ballot for corresponding secretary 
resulted in the election of Mr. Darling by the 
following vote: Darling, 13: D. S. Foster 7- 
Sawyer, 2; Diraon, 2; Bagg, 1. 

Dr. Bagg was re-elected recording secre- 
ret py« securing 18 votes to Colonei Gray's 6 
and S. N. D. North's 1. ' 

On motion of General Darling the secretary 
was directed to cast the ballot of the soeiety for 
K. fe. Williams for treasurer. 

The following were elected members of the ex- 
ecutive committee: A. Seward, John F Sev- 
mour S. G. Visscher, Daniel Batchelor, C. W 
Hutchinson. 

Several bills were referred to the finance com- 
mittee. 

Dr. Bagg stated that last year the society voted 
to invite Professor Sawyer to deliver his "lecture 
on < Old Utica." He wae not ready at the time, 
and later another lecturer was substituted He 
moved that he read the paper at the next regular 
meeting. He also moved that Amos O. Osborne 
of Watemlle be invited to read a history of his 
town before the society. 

Mr. Hutchinson reported that Rev. Mr Beau- 
champ, who read a paper before the society 
some time ago, was willing to read another on 
Moaera Customs of Indians." He moved that 
he be invited at some future time. The three 
resolutions were adopted. 

Mr. Jones said it was important that the ros- 
ter should be disposed of at once. The com- 
mittee to whom it was referred had allowed the I 
executive committer to inspect it, and he was 
directed to present it to the society. Some 
changes had been made; who made them he did ' 
not know. He was however willing to accept ' 
all changes. The changes made were Nicholaus 
to Nicolaus. George, to Georg, Timmerman, to 
limmermann.Blauvault to Blauwauldt, Conover 
F°ni£ f Ve v h ?/ ei V Dookstader to Dachstader, 
I tS l -,? 01 ^' Mll,er t0 Muller, Konrad to Con- 
rad, Sillenboch to Silberbach, Westerman to 
Wesrermann Oyer to Eyer, Kapfernasel to 
Kopertiell Tne name Pickard was changed to 
Rucherr. This he did not understand. 
On motion the name was left as on the oriffin- 
I al and the report was adopted. 

Mr. Guelich reported that in the view of the 
mode of spelling adopted by the society, theGer- 
mama Industrial society had subscribed $25 
toward the monument fund, and the Maen- 

toS^ffif T S? GermaDS haVe vol ««teer"d 
to raise $.140 for the purpose. 

W^?n? n f- Mr,H , ulburt ' Mr - J^es was al- 
lowed §10 tor his work upon the roster. 

lhe thanks of the society were extended to 

»fL r ^"u g .u Vice " presidem - Mr - Hutchinson, 
after which the meeting adjourned. I 

Annexation ett to-..*.. ^ 



29 

Nine bound volumes of the Utica Columbian Gazette, covering 
in whole or in part, the years 1803, 1805, 1811, 1814, 1822-3-4. 

Three bound volumes of Utica Sentinel and Gazette, for the 
years 1828-9, 30- 

One volume of v -ida Whig, 1834. 

One volume of Utica Intelligencer, for 1827-8-9-30. 

One volume of the Elucidator, (incomplete,) 1830-1-2-3-4. 

Two volumes of the Elucidator, 1830 and 1833. 

One volume Utica WeeMy Observer, 1837-8. 

One volume Utica Daily Gazette, 1842. 

Fifteen volumes Utica Evening Telegraph, 1858 to 1865. 

One volume Utica Daily JSTews, (for three months,) 1842. 

Thirty-six volumes Utica Morning Herald, from 1861 to 1878, 
inclusive. 

Seventeen volumes, (unbound,) of the Gospel Messenger, Utica, 
1855 to 1871. 

Seventeen volumes New York Daily Tribune, from February 1, 
1862, to January 1, 1868. 

Nine volumes of the Albany Argus, 1833-40. 

One volume of Albany Gazette, 1812-16. 

One volume of Albany State Register, 1850-1-2. 

Six volumes of Richmond Enquirer, 1838-45. 

The list of miscellaneous newspapers, from a single specimen to 
a dozen or two, including the Western Centinel, Patriot, the Utica 
Patriot, Whitestown Gazette and Gators Patrol, the Club, the 
Western Recorder, Evangelical Magazine, and others from all 
parts of the world, would be too long for this report. The 
Historical Magazine, for the first nine years of its publication, is 
to the searcher after facts in history, among the most valuable 
works in your library. I would recommend early and persistent 
efforts to supply the numbers missing. 

THE PEIECE COLLECTION. 

A miscellaneous collection of early quarterly and mc nly re- 
views, religious and literary, from the library of the late Ft- . Isaac 
Bliss Peirce, of Trenton Falls, will repay an examination. i bun- 
dle of old sermons and pamphlets, mostly relating to the theo- 
logical discussions so rife in New England in the last century, is 
from the same source ; as are also a pitcher commemorating the 
visit to this country of General La Fayette, "the nation's guest," 



30 

and another commemorating the completion of the Erie canal, and 
the long pip?, pipe rest and tobacco box of the late Judge Van der 
Kemp. 

THE VAN DER KEMP COLLECTION. 

Under the head of manuscripts, documents, works of art, the 
number two hundred and twenty-seven, gives but a faint idea of 
the extent of the collection. They extend to several thousands. 
A series of sermons on doctrinal subjects, and the manuscript history 
of the "Achaian Republic," by the late Judge Francis Adrian Van 
der Kemp, LL. D., are real gems. A series of letters from Judge 
Van der Kemp to his friend, Colonel Mappa, detailing the results of 
his observations, adventures and experiences in a trip from the Hud- 
son to Oswego, in 1792, throws a great deal of light upon the social, 
moral and physical condition of this part of the State at that 
period. The quaint English, the poetry and the enthusiasm of the 
writer, so recently a refugee on our shores, give these letters a 
zest not always found in those of explorers. They are found 
printed as an appendix of an address delivered by John F. Sey- 
mour, at Trenton, July 4th, 1876. 

Dr. Van der Kemp was born at Campen, in Netherlands, May 4, 
1752, and died at Trenton, September 7, 1829. Born in camp, 
where his father was an officer of rank, at an early age he became 
a cadet, and his earlier education had reference to the military 
profession. Changing his mind, he pursued his education for many 
years at the schools in Zutphen and Zwolle, and the universities at 
Groningen, Franequer and Amsterdam. While at the latter, he 
studied theology, and prepared himself for the Gospel ministry. 
In 1776, he became pastor of a Baptist church, in Holland, a 
church which I presume has no synonym in this country. From 
his pulpit inveighing against the encroachments of the State 
Church upon the liberties of the people, and opposing all forms of 
tyranny, he consequently found himself prominent in 1785-6 in the 
attempted revolution in Holland, and putting in use his early mili- 
tary training, he was soon in command of a small military force. 
Overwhelmed by superior numbers, and through the apathy of the 
people, he with other leaders became prisoners in July, 1786. In 
December, 1787, he was released, and with letters from Jefferson, 
John Adams and LaFayette, he soon left Holland and landed in 
New York, May 4, 1788. After visiting General Washington, Dr. 
Franklin, Governor Livingston and many other distinguished men, 



31 

he took up his abode at Esopus, (Kingston,) on the Hudson. From 
thence, lie removed in 1793 to a place he named Kempwick, on the 
north shore of Oneida lake, but soon removed to Trenton village, 
(then Oldenbarneveld.) He was doubtless one of the most pro- 
found scholars ever a resident of this section, especially in ancient 
and modern languages, Under the auspices of Governor DeWitt 
Clinton, he translated most of the Dutch records, contained in 
over twenty volumes, in the office of our Secretary of State. 

MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS. 

The correspondence relating to the Oriskany centennial has found 
its appropriate place in your library. The handsome volume pre- 
pared by the chairman of the invitation committee, containing the 
replies by distinguished men, commencing with President Hayes, 
forms a collection of autograph letters of much interest. The vol- 
ume containing names of volunteers and recruits in this county, with 
names of substitutes and for whom, with full descriptions, for 1863-4 
and 5, with a large mass of official documents relating to the re- 
cruiting service will prove valuable to soldiers and their families. 
A large number of autograph letters and documents, and a mass 
of political handbills and circulars of early dates, tend much to 
enrich the collection. A large number of deeds, mortgages, leases, 
contracts, surveys, maps, &c, from the papers of the late Judge 
Sanger, of New Hartford, many of which were never recorded, 
aside from the historical data they contain, may become useful in 
future investigation of land titles. For a long period Judge Sanger 
was extensively interested as owner or agent of lax-ge tracts of 
land in Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Onondaga and other counties. 

Jedediah Sanger was born in Massachusetts, February 29, 
1751. In 1788 he settled New Hartford, then Whitestown, Mont- 
gomery county. Residing in New Hartford, he represented Herki- 
mer, Herkimer and Onondaga and Oneida counties in the Senate 
and Assembly most of the time from 1794 to 1804. He was first 
Judge of Herkimer county in 1797, and of Oneida county from 
1798 to 1810, though not a lawyer. He died June 6, 1829. 

THE HEEKTMEE PAPEES. 

An interesting collection of papers relating to the Herkimer fam- 
ily, has been presented to the society by H. G. Babcock, of Little 
Falls, a descriptive account of which has been prepared by Mat- 



32 

thew D. Bagg, Esq. Although they contain no manuscripts di- 
rectly from the hand of General Nicholas Herkimer, it is believed 
to be the fullest collection of papers relating to his family now in 
existence. The society is anxious to supplement it by additional 
documents and papers bearing in any way upon the history of the 
revolution in the Mohawk valley, and especially the part played 
therein by the Herkimers. 



INDIAN AND REVOLUTIONARY RELICS. 

Under the head of relics .and works of art, although a fair 
beginning has been made, but few articles have been received. 
Some interesting relics from Oriskany battle field, Forts Stanwix 
and Bull, old Indian villages in the Mohawk valley, Gettysburg, 
and other localities are catalogued. With proper effort a large 
number of Indian relics can be procured. These are fast dis- 
appearing to grace collections in distant localities, and soon the 
flint, stone and earthen implements of the Oneidas and Mohawks 
will be very rare and expensive, and their history and uses will be 
as little known as those of the mound builders of the west. 

You will pardon me if I have painted in too high colors ; have 
been too sanguine, too enthusiastic over the beginnings of the 
Oneida Historical Society. 

January 14, 18*79. Respectfully Submitted, 

M. M. JONES, Librarian. 



TREASURER'S REPORT. 



The annual report of the Treasurer, Robert S. Williams, showed 
a balance on hand of $139.46. 



.The trcn-aiuxT, Robert S. Williams, sub- 
bmtfeck nis annual report. It showed the 
amount on hand at date of last report, $139.46 ; 
amount since received from all sources, $141.- 
45; amount expended during last year, $161.- 
54; balance on hand, $119.37. The report 
showed that 55 members had paid their dues 
for the year 1879, and that 78 members are 
upon the books of the society who owe one 
vcars' dues. 




V CoyteuUl (?clA> (gUUj^c, r_^r~" 6L^ 

/// / 7 7 6 













//. 






^-C-<_<_^-*- i>< 






PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



1. Memorial of the Celebration of the Centennial of the Battle of Oriskany: 

1877. 

2. Historical Fallacies Regarding Colonial New York. Annual Address 

before the Society, by Major Douglas Campbell: 1879. 

3. The Men, Events, Lawyers, Politics and Politicians of Early Eome. 

Address before the Society, by D. E. Wager: 1879. 

4. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, with Constitution, Members, Col- 

lections, etc.: 1879. 



Papers and Addresses Read Before the Society. 



1. October 29, 1878. Alexander Seward — "The Genealogy of a Utica 

Newspaper." 

2. November 26, 1878. D. E. Wager— "The History of Journalism in 

Rome." 

3. December 10, 1878. S. N. D. North—" The Needs and Purposes of the 

Oneida Historical Society." 

4. December 17, 1878. Alexander Seward—" The History of the Title to 

the Oriskanv Battle Field." 

5. December 31. Alexander Seward—" The Telegraph and the Associated 

Press." 

6. January 14, 1879. Douglas Campbell—" Historical Fallacies Regarding 

Colonial New York." 

7. January 28, 1879. D. E. Wager—" The Men, Events, Lawyers, Politics 

and Politicians of Early Rome." 

8. February 25, 1879. Matthew D. Bagg— " The Herkimer Family Papers." 

( G^lJ o~Ya- Cjl^^ c( <L u ^—<Oo— y^^Un^ 




//, 



OBJECTS OF COLLECTION. 



The attention of residents of the Mohawk valley, and of all the 
counties of central New York which are segments of the original 
Tryon county, is respectfully invited to the following suggestions 
regarding the nature of the donations solicited by the Oneida His- 
torical Society to render its collections what they are intended to 
be — a comprehensive receptacle for the archives of all central 
New York. Many citizens who stand ready to respond to the 
appeals of the society, have hesitated to make gifts within 
their power, because they are not sure that what they have to 
give comes within the legitimate domain of the society. To all 
such the following summary of articles solicited will be a guide. 
Donors may rest assured of three things — first, that whatever they 
may send, will be cared for ; second, that its individual value will be 
greatly enhanced for all purposes of historical investigation, by the 
association with the other collections of the society ; third, that in 
the altogether improbable event of the dissolution of the Oneida 
Historical Society, every donation will be returned to the donor or 
his heirs. 

The society has addressed its attention especially to the collec- 
tion of the following objects : 

i. — BOOKS. 

A — All books of whatsoever character, published within the limits of the 
territory represented by this society. 

E — All books published elsewhere by persons now or formerly resident with- 
in this territory. 

C — All books relating to the history of the Five Nations, and the Indians 
generally. 

D — All books relating to the history, the biography, the development, the 
characteristics, the manufactures, the commerce and the agriculture 
of the counties and towns of central New York. 

E — All the publications of other historical societies. 

F — All the publications of the State of New York. 



35 

G — All the publications of the United States bearing upon the history or the 
development of the country. 

H — All other publications which relate to American history — with a view to 
making the local library comprehensive on all questions relating to 
the history of this country. 

II. PAMPHLETS. 

A — All pamphlets which come under any of the above descriptions of book s 
wanted. 

B — All published sermons having either a local, historical or personal sig 
nificance, and all historical and anniversary discourses. 

C — Catalogues and reports of all the schools, academies, colleges, and other 
institutions or associations of education or charity, within the purview 
of the society. 

D — All published speeches of public men within these limits. 

E — All political, religious, commercial and statistical tracts and reports, pub- 
lished within this territory. 

III. NEWSPAPER FILES. 

A — Bound files of all the newspapers that are or have been published with- 
in this territory. 

B — Odd copies of old newspapers which have been preserved for any purpose, 
and which will be valuable to the society in completing files. The 
society will be glad to receive unbound files of newspapers, giving in 
each case a guarantee that they will be properly bound, except when 
they are duplicates of bound files already in its possession. 

IV. — MANUSCRIPTS. 
A — Deeds and indentures. 
B — Autograph letters. 

C — •Pioneer Journals and narratives of early settlers. 
D — Surveys and field-books. 
E — Muster rolls, etc. 

V. MAPS. 

All old maps, of a local or general character, are acceptable donations. 

VI. — PICTURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS. 

A — Portraits and busts of local and historical personages. 

B — Views of historic spots and structures. 

C — All pictures and photographs which have a local or historical value 



36 

VII. — INDIAN MEMORIALS. 
Prehistoric and Indian remains, of every variety and description. 

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS RELICS. 

Relics or mementoes connected in any way with the early history of a 
locality, or with the personal experiences of its early settlers, rarely 
fail to have a permanent value in the collections of historical societies. 

IX. SPECIMENS IN GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. 

All specimens which illustrate the geological formation of the territory of 
this society are welcome additions to its collections ; the same remark 
applies to all specimens which illustrate its natural history. 

The publishers, authors and compilers of the current circular, 
pamphlet and book literature of the day are respectfully solicited 
to deposit copies in the library of the society. 

The society will pay express charges upon all packages sent to 
it from out of town. 

The society will send a representative, when requested, to 
examine materials in other towns which the owners desire to 
deposit with the society. 

Charles L. Woodward, bookseller, No. 78 Nassau St., New 
York, will receive for the society, and forward to Utica, packages 
of donations for its collections. Such packages should be prop- 
erly prepared and addressed for forwarding by express. 

Parties in possession of any of the above objects which they do 
not desire to donate, are invited to deposit the same in the collec- 
tions of the society, to be reclaimed at pleasure. No property 
thus deposited will be permitted to be taken from the rooms of 
the society, except upon the written consent of the owner. A fire- 
proof vault in the library building is at the disposal of the society. 

The honorary, corresponding and resident members of the 
society are earnestly requested to aid its officers in the effort to 
increase the library, and to add to the completeness and value of 
each department of the society's collections. 



DONORS. 



[Several gentlemen in this list of donors have contributed very largely to the col- 
lections of the society, and the managers regret that they are not able to indicate the num- 
ber of donations received from each individual. At the annual meeting, the practice was 
inaugurated of electing to a life membership, the member making the most valuable contribu- 
tions during the previous year, and Mr. George Walker was thus elected.] 



Adams, George W., Utica. 
Akehurst, E. L., Utica. 
Arthur, Mrs. John, Utica. 
Babcock, H. G., Little Falls. 
Bacon, William J., Utica. 
Bagg, Col. Egbert, Utica. 
Bagg, Matthew D., Utica. 
Bagg, M. M., Utica. 
Bailev, E. Prentiss, Utica. 
Bailer, VV. T., Richfield Springs. 
Ballou, Theodore P., Utica. 
Batchelor, Julian, Utica. 
Batchelor, Peter W., Utica. 
Beers, Franklin B., Rome. 
Benham, Thomas L , Utica. 
Bennett, Dolpkas, Utica. 
Brace, Mrs. Samuel W., Utica. 
Brayton, E. S., Utica. 
Brooks, Erastus, New York. 
Brown. Dr. Samuel G., Ham. College. 
Bryden, James W., Utica. 
Budlong, F. A., Utica. 
Butler, Charles A., Utica. 
Butler, Morgan, New Hartford. 
Butterfield, Theodore F. , Utica. 
Campbell, Douglas. New York. 
Canfield, Charles, Utica. 
Carpenter, W. P., Utica. 
Chubbuck, H. Eugene, Utica. 
Church, J. M., Utica. 
Clark, Benjamin A., Utica. 
Coburn. Alexander, Utica. 
Collins, Selden, Utica. 
Crocker, John G., Utica. 
Curran, Edward, Utica. 
Darling, Charles W., Utica. 
Devendorf, L. B., Utica. 
Devereux, John C, Utica. 
* Donaldson, David, Utica. 
Doolittle, Charles A., Utica. 
Dorrance, D. G., Oneida Castle. 
Draper, Lyman C, Madison, Wis. 
Duffy, Edward, Utica. 
Earl, Samuel, Herkimer. 
Earll, John L., Utica. 
Eaton, Hon. John, Washington, D. C. 
Edmonds, John H., Utica. 
England, William, Utica. 



Frey, S. L., Canajoharie. 
Foster, Charles S. , Utica. 
Foster, Sanford N., New Hartford. 
Fowler, Rev. P. H., Utica. 
Gallup, Dr. John C, Clinton. 
Gardner, James S , Whitesboro. 
Goodrich, Miss, Utica. 
Goodwin, Hon. Alexander T., Utica. 
Gray, Dr. John P., Utica. 
Haines, Rev. Selden, Rome. 
Hall, H. Clay, Little Falls. 
Hare, Oscar, Utica. 
Harrington, W. C, Utica. 
Harris, George, Utica. 
Hastings, John C, Clinton. 
Hodges, William H., Oriskany. 
Hornung, J. Felix, Utica. 
Hubbell, Henry S., Utica. 
Hunt, Dr. James G., Utica. 
Hutchinson, Charles W. , Utica. 
Jones, Miss A. A., Clinton. 
Jones, Mrs. Maria, Utica. 
Jones, M. M. , Utica. 
Jones, Pomroy, Lairdsville. 
Jones, R. R., Remsen. 
Kincaid, J. C. P., Utica. 
Latimore, Frank H., Utica. 
Leach, Mrs. A., Utica. 
Lewis, Benjamin F., Utica. 
Lyman, Mrs. Samuel P., Utica. 
Mann, James F. , Utica. 
Marshall, O. H., Buffalo. 
Marvin, J. H., New Hartford. 
McMillan, Andrew, Utica. 
McQuade, Gen. James, Utica. 
Miller, Addison C. , Utica. 
Milligan, M. G., Little Falls. 
Mooney, Francis B., Utica. 
Moss, Hon. George, Albany. 
Myers, Edwin J., Utica. 
North, Edward, Clinton. 
North, S. N. D., Utica. 
Owens, Charles S. , Utica. 
Owens, Thomas M., Utica. 
Pavey, Darwin C, Utica. 
Peckham, Merritt, Utica. 
Peckham, S. Townsend, Utica. 
Peirce, Misa Mary E., Trenton. 



38 



Philleo, Mrs. Julia, Utica. 
Piper, John, Utica. 
Purcell, Mrs. Sarah, Utica. 
Rcdfield, Hon. Lewis H., Syracuse. 
Roberts, Ellis H., Utica. 
Roberts, Ellis II. & Co., Utica. 
Sayre, Charles H., Utica. 
Seward, Alexander, Utica. 
Seward, Robert A., Utica. 
Seward, T. W., Utica. 
Seymour, Horatio, Utica. 
Seymour, John P., Utica. 
Shattuck, Lewis H., Utica. 
Shearman, Joseph A., Utica. 
Sherman, Richard U., New Hartford. 
Simmons, John W., Canton, N. Y. 
Simms, Jeptha R., Fort Plain. 
Spicer, L., Utica. 
Stafford, Spencer H., Oneida. 
Stone, William L., Jersey City. 
Street, Alfred B. , Albany. 



Swartout, Eugene, Utica. 
Symonds, Charles S. , Utica. 
Tryon, William, Jr., Richfield. 
Valiant, William S., Rome. 
Van Emberg, Thomas, Utica. 
Visscher, S. G., Rome. 
Wager, D. E., Rome. 
Walker, George, Utica. 
Ward, Charles W., Rome. 
Warnick, Leslie, Utica. 
Webster, Peter G., Fort Plain. 
West, Dr. Joseph E., Utica. 
Wheeler, Russel, Utica. ' 
White, Philo, Whitesboro. 
Williams, Harvey, New Hartford. 
Williams, H. Dwight, Utica. 
Williams, Mrs. James Watson, Utica. 
Williams, Robert S., Utica. 
Wool worth, Dr. Samuel B., Albany. 
Wright, B. Huntington, Rome. 
Youngiove, Mrs. John, Utica. 



ADDENDA. 

The following additional members were elected April 8th 

RESIDENT. 
Barber, A. D., Utica. Miller, Addison C, Utica. 



CORRESPONDING. 



Beach, Hon. Allen C, 

Watertown, N. Y, 
Dwight, Prof. Theodore W., LL. D., 
New York 
Frey, John, Palatine Bridge, N. Y. 
Fuller, John W., Toledo, Ohio. 
Johnson, Charles A., 

Newbury port, Mass, 



Laming, John J., New York. 
Leulie, James H., Chicago, 111. 
Moore, Charles R, New York. 
Purple, Samuel jl., New York. 
Schoonmaker, Hon. Abram, 

Kingston, 
'''Smith, Green, Peterboro, N. Y. 
Stiles, Henry R., New York. 



N. Y. 



J 



INDEX. 



Introduction, 2 

Articles of Incorporation, 3 

Constitution, 7 

By-Laws, U 

Officers for 1879, 15 

Standing Committees, jq 

Special Standing Committees, lg 

Resident Members, 17 

Life Members, 18 

Honorary Members, 19 

Corresponding Members, jg 

Annual Reports for 1878, 21 

Report of Eoard of Managers, 21 

Report of Librarian, . 26 

Classification of Collections 26 

Summary, 27 

Bound Books, 27 

Early Local Publications, 27 

Welsh Publications, 28 

Local Histories, 28 

Pamphlets, 28 

Newspaper Files, 28 

Peirce Collection, 29 

Van der Kemp Collection, 39 

Miscellaneous Collections, 31 

The Herkimer Papers, 31 

Indian and Revolutionary Relics, 32 

Treasurer's Report, 32 

Publications of the Society, 33 

Addresses and Papers delivered before the Society, 33 

Objects of Collection, 34 

List of Donors, 37 



of& 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 221 354 



